Clicking on the image (top left) will take you to a short biography of Cicero, and I'd like to have you read it before you read the .pdf file mentioned above. There are several questions which this document tries to answer:
What is "law"? Cicero mashes up two ways of looking at the idea. Mark these on your copy.
Are there some laws which existed since the beginning of time, or at least before there were legislatures to write them.
If so, how do we find out what these laws are?
What is special about Human Beings and separates us from all the other animals?
Notice that Cicero uses the word law in two different ways. What is the difference between them, and which is superior to the other?
Focus your attention for a bit on the lines between about 120 and 150. What are the attributes (including physical ones) which separate humans from othe animals? Why do these make us, in some fashion or other, superior?
Referring back to the third dot in this list, think a bit about reason. How does reason work? Note there are a number of steps, which suggest that for Cicero, reason is not a solitary activity. Is the sequence of steps of particular importance?
Some of Cicero's remarks reflect on the idea of equality. What does he have to say about this (he may use different words).
If, as Cicero suggests, we can all figure out the right thing to do, why don't we always to the right thing? What "corrupts" us?
Even though we may do "the wrong things"--Cicero argues that all societies agree to some extent on what the "rights things" are. (Look around line 200.) Do you agree with him? Would you add anything else to his list? If so, what?
What about what Cicero and his friends call "civil law"? How are these created, and what sometimes happens to them? (Look around line 280 and following).
If we uncover civil laws which are "unjust"--what is our obligation, according to Cicero. Do you agree with him? Why or why not?
When you've finished reflecting, marking up, using sticky notes, and all the other techniques, don't forget to add it to your drop box.
Download, read, and mark up to put in your drop box, from the Core Canon
Two images of Immanuel Kant. As you can see, the artist's attitude has an effect on the presentation. Which artist do think had the more favorable view of his subject?
As you read this, think of the Kant's sense of what a "guardian" is. We tend to think a person acting as a "guardian" is doing a good thing. What about Kant?
All guardians are not "people". What kinds of examples does Kant give, in the first paragraph, and beyond.
What are the tools "guardians use", and why do they use them?
What is the use of fear? How does Kant argue that we should "Have courage to use your own reason"?
What it the relationship of "freedom" to "enlightenment"? Kant imagines a process by which this happens to the "public". Does this process apply today, over two hundred years since this was writtten? (look toward the bottom of the first page).
Kant wrote " Only one prince in the world says, "Argue as much as you will, and about what you will, but obey!" Everywhere there is restriction on freedom." Is he approving of this Prince's behavior? What good is it to argue if the end result is you must obey anyhow? What do you think?
Be aware of Kant's distinction between one"s public and private use of reason? Is he right. (Be a little careful, he uses "public" and "private" is ways a little differently than we use them. A recent situation involving a woman named Kim Davis would be an example of what he would call "private" use of reason.
In the last paragraph on page 3, Kant writes, "The touchstone of everything that can be concluded as a law for a people lies in the question whether the people could have imposed such a law on itself." What relationship does this have to the idea of Democracy? Has the meanng of "people" changed a bit since Kant wrote? What do you think?
On p. 4, Kant argues that "republics" cannot allow as much freedom as autocratic governments can. Is there a good argument against his point of view? See if you can come up with one (you might want to borrow a bit from Cicero as you think of this).
Use your markup tools to reflect on these ideas, and then put yoru document in your drop box.
You may want to listen to the video above to help you understand Kant's point of view.
The original text was in German originally. The video translates the text a bit differently.
History and the Modern World
